[NAGDU] First Dog

[Sonja O]

Dear Marion,
I’m very sorry about your loss :’(
It’s hard to lose your sidekick and friend.
He was special.

I am very happy for you to have found trooper and have to opportunity to work with John.
Amazing.
I’m very happy for you and trooper.
Sending warm wishes and the best for everyone involved in his training.
Sonja and Chief <3

Check us out 
@chief - a service dog 
on Facebook 

> On Feb 16, 2018, at 11:57 AM, NAGDU President via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
>                                Dear Colleagues,
> 
> 
> 
>                Some of you may already know that my beloved German shepherd
> guide dog, Sergeant, passed away in early September. I have not shared it
> too widely, as I am a fairly private person when it comes to my guides and
> have had a pretty challenging time adjusting to his passing. We are not
> really positive why he passed away but we suspect liver cancer, as we found
> he had nodules on his liver leading to a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis in
> February of last year. We were treating the symptoms and he seemed to be
> responding well but took a turn for the worse on August 31 and passed away
> on September 9.
> 
> 
> 
>                I share this with you as a prelude to let you know that I
> will be meeting my potential new guide dog and NAGDU's First Dog next
> Friday, February 23. Trooper is being trained by John Byfield of Freedom
> Guide Dogs in Cassville, NY. Trooper is a Blue Merle Smooth-Coat Collie who
> stand about 28" at the shoulders and currently weighs in at about 66 lbs.
> The Blue Merle is a silvery gray marbled with black and tan markings all
> marked with white areas on the chest, neck, feet/legs, and tail tip.
> 
> 
> 
>                There are some major reasons I chose Freedom Guide Dogs for
> my next dog. One reason is the opportunity to train with John Byfield. For
> those of you who do not know John, he is probably the most experienced and
> well-respected guide dog trainer in the world. John began training guide
> dogs in the U.K. at the age of 20 and just recently celebrated his 80th
> birthday, though you would likely not guess him as much more than his
> mid-60s. This is likely due to his walking several miles every day while
> training young pups for the past 60 years. Training with this legend will be
> an honor and very exciting.
> 
> 
> 
>                Another reason I have chosen Freedom Guide Dogs is because
> of their unique breeds. I am unaware of any other guide dog training program
> with Collies in their strings. They have a very soft temperament, lots of
> energy,  and an incredible work ethic.
> 
> 
> 
>                Freedom Guide Dogs also conduct exclusively community
> training, meaning they bring the dog to you and train you in your home town.
> At the same time, though, Trooper has been prepared to live and work my
> lifestyle. Since I travel a lot, he has been exposed to flying, busy city
> traffic, and subways - something we do not have here in Florida. They have
> kennels in Cassville but no dormitories. 
> 
>                My final consideration for choosing Freedom Guide Dogs - and
> something I share with anyone asking me which program I recommend - is that,
> when I am finished with my training with Trooper, he is my dog, free and
> clear. Freedom will provide me with any follow-up I need but relinquishes
> any ownership interest in him. They will not and cannot remove him for any
> reason whatsoever. Such a policy respects the dignity of me as a blind
> person, ensures a safe, sound team, and creates a relationship based on the
> expectation that I am an adult with the ability to independently care for my
> dog and make decisions about his care and training without their
> interference. I have no hesitation asking them for help if needed because I
> am confident they will not interfere with my ownership rights.
> 
> 
> 
>                I intend to document my training from the time I meet
> Trooper for the first time next Friday, begin my training regimen, and while
> John puts us through our paces throughout Tampa and the surrounding areas.
> If you would like to follow Trooper and me on our exciting journey, please
> subscribe to my blog, "Marion's Musings" at
> 
> 
> 
> http://mariongwizdala.wordpress.com
> 
> 
> 
> Let's take this adventure forward!
> 
> 
> 
> Fraternally yours,
> 
> Marion Gwizdala
> 
> 
> 
> Marion Gwizdala, President
> 
> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
> 
> National Federation of the Blind
> 
> (813) 626-2789
> 
> President at NAGDU.ORG
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
> expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  people
> and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds
> you back.
> 
> 
> 
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